Chapter 1092
Plato smiled and said seriously, "I've already talked about my views in the previous Scholar Conferences. If I don't have something new, how can I stand on the podium again? Besides, there are many young scholars who gave wonderful speeches at this Scholar Conference, especially your son Apox. He has made such an amazing discovery at such a young age. It's really enviable! Moreover, most of these young scholars came from your Diónia Academy. It can be seen that your Diónia's long-term unremitting investment in education has finally begun to bear fruit. In contrast, other city-states, including our Athens, have fallen behind a lot! "At this point, Plato's face showed some worry.
"Yesterday, Hypsippus's speech also won the praise of many scholars! Plato, you don't have to worry about not having a successor! "Lysias comforted him.
Hypsippus hurriedly got up to thank his elders.
Plato was not modest. He pointed to his nephew and said, "Compared with the first Scholar Conference, the current Hypsippus has indeed made great progress. However, so far, he is the only 'young scholar' in my academy, while many outstanding young scholars have emerged from your academy. This gap is very big!"
"The Diónia Academy is a public institution of the Kingdom. It is funded and supported by the Treasury of Diónia. Every year, the most outstanding students who graduate from the schools of the Kingdom's towns are selected and further trained. Naturally, the success rate is very high. On the other hand, the Academy is personally funded by you. It is limited by funds, space, and the number of teachers. You can't recruit more students. Of course, this is incomparable.
However, I heard that the reputation of Academy Academy has already begun to spread throughout the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. I believe that gradually, there will be more outstanding youths from various Greek city-states willing to study at your academy, and the situation will greatly improve. "Lysias consoled.
Plato sighed, "As I wrote in the book 'New Republic', 'If a country or a city-state wants to achieve sustained prosperity, the first thing to do is to focus on education. Education can not only give young citizens wisdom, but also cultivate them to have a sound mind and morality from an early age. Only when the quality of the citizens is improved and they know how to think, can the entire country develop healthily … "
Unfortunately, we Athenians do not think so. They are interested only in the immediate interest, and wish to distribute the wealth of the treasury equally. So a few years ago, at the Assembly, they unanimously agreed to introduce an allowance for the Assembly (half a drachma is given to any Athenian who attends the Assembly, and this allowance increases as the prices of goods rise, and even extends to participation in other Assemblies).
After tasting the benefits of sharing the wealth of the city-state, they officially passed the 'implementation of the theater subsidy system' the year before last (during the Athens celebrations, poor citizens would occasionally be given subsidies to buy theater tickets. This tradition first began in the time of Pericles). For this reason, they also specially set up a financial officer to manage the theater subsidy … "
Plato said worriedly, "Now that the citizens of Athens enjoy the benefits of sharing the wealth of the city-state, they hope that the city-state will distribute subsidies more frequently and in greater amounts, and the remaining taxes of Athens will become less and less, and the ability to cope with the economic situation will become less and less. But as the citizens of Athens become more and more comfortable, they become less and less willing to engage in arduous and dangerous military operations.
Some time ago, Konon's son, Timotheus, proposed in the council that 'we should lead the navy around the Peloponnesus peninsula, attack the Sparta navy, and completely establish the superiority of the navy of Athens.' The council passed his proposal, but no funds were allocated for the expedition. The people were also not enthusiastic about joining the army. Timotheus had to raise money himself, hire soldiers, and pay them to form the fleet.
After conquering Kekkila Island, due to the lack of funds, the sailors refused to fight for him again, and the whole military operation was hastily ended halfway through. Timotheus was not the only military commander who encountered such a predicament, but also Iphicrates, Cabrias … These outstanding generals of Athens also suffered from the restrictions of military funds, resulting in a series of military operations in Athens in the past few years to little effect.
This also caused the outstanding generals who were willing to serve Athens to often serve foreign monarchs, which also gave them enough money or the ability to borrow money to support the military operations they carried out for Athens. For example, Iphicrates often served the Thracians, and he also married the daughter of the Thracian king. Timotheus had a high reputation in Ionia, and he also married the daughter of the king of Asia Minor …
Usually, they spent more time abroad than in Athens, because they had more freedom, could live a luxurious and flashy life, and would not be criticized by public opinion. In the long run, how much loyalty would they still have to Athens?!
This is simply a vicious cycle! But the citizens of Athens can't see these dangers, most of them only care about the free theater, and the money they can get from sitting in various venues every day … This is the saddest thing! "
After listening to this, Devers did not want to express his opinion on the affairs of Athens, but after thinking about it, he still said seriously, "The government of Athens is not willing to spend money from the treasury to form an army to fight a war, which will lead to a worse result. The generals of Athens use their own funds to pay the mercenaries, and the mercenaries naturally listen to the orders of the generals, not the government of Athens. The government of Athens has completely lost control of the army, and it is difficult to order the army to carry out the strategy it has formulated. Even if the general in charge of the army has some kind of ambition for Athens and orders the army to attack Athens, do you think the mercenaries will listen to him? "
Plato was stunned. He slowly put down the wine glass that was brought to his mouth, and after a while, he said hesitantly, "Although there are some conflicts between Timotheus and Iphicrates, the generals of Athens today are still full of love for Athens … But you are also right. Since the army is working for the city, of course, the city should also pay for the soldiers and ensure their lives. Both sides have an obligation to each other. But if one side gives up this obligation, of course, the other side has the right to not carry out this obligation …
The day before yesterday, when I came to Turií, I had already heard about 'Diónia raising taxes to form a border army'. The people of Diónia are indeed very happy to have a strong and wise government! "
Plato took a sip of wine, he did not want to discuss this annoying issue anymore, so he continued, "The reason why I came to Turií this time is that I spent some time traveling to other cities and towns in Diónia."
"Oh!" The Devers said with a regretful expression, "You should have told me in advance and let me arrange it for you. That way, your travel will be more convenient and safer."
"I didn't tell you because I wanted to give myself more freedom to wander around and let my eyes see things more real." Plato pointed at his eyes and asked mischievously, "Dear King Devers, are you afraid that I will see something bad when you want to arrange it for me?"
The Devers laughed heartily, "You should know me. I have nothing to worry about."
"Indeed, I should congratulate you!" Plato said with great interest, "I went to the south, the former military town of Carthage, Lili, and to the big city of Rome in the north. I also stayed in Bereventum, the former central town of the Samonians for two days … The territory of Diónia is indeed vast. It took me a lot of time just to get there.
However, I would like to correct what you have just said, Your Majesty. The journey has been very safe, whether by sea or by land. I have not encountered pirates or bandits, nor have I seen any war. Everywhere I have passed through has been peaceful and tranquil, even in the territory of the Samonians, whom the Greeks called 'fierce barbarians'.
You know, more than ten years ago, Greece and Sicily were at war just like Greece itself. The war between the Greek colonial city-states, the war between the colonial city-states and the indigenous people, the war between the Greek city-states and the Carthage … Today, the war in Greece itself is still going on, but the western side of the Adriatic Sea is a completely different scene. This is the great change that the existence of the Kingdom of Diónia has brought to the western Mediterranean! "
Plato took another sip of wine and continued to say loudly, "I also have to mention another important change. Although the journey is long, the transportation is very convenient. The sea route is smooth. The port towns that I went to, no matter big or small, have relatively complete port facilities, and the management is also orderly.
As for the land route, I have to mention the roads that you have spent a lot of money to build. They are flat, wide, and strong. Even in the mountains of Samonia and Lucania, they still exist. You have also built roads in the territories of the Walsi and Campanians … Oh, you call it the 'road network'. It is indeed a network. This network connects most of the races on the Italian peninsula, providing great convenience for their travel and trade, and also strengthening communication between the people of various races.
When I walk on the road, there is always an endless stream of pedestrians on the road. Most of their faces are filled with an optimistic spirit. I see a desire on their faces. This desire makes them appear to be in a hurry, whether it is driving a cart or carrying a parcel. But this hurry is not because of poverty, but for a better life … And this desire is given by the Kingdom of Diónia! "
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